Economy

Global growth is still positive, but the headline number hides major differences between regions, income groups and economies exposed to energy and trade shocks.

Government borrowing is not automatically a sign of failure. Countries borrow to finance infrastructure, respond to crises, smooth economic shocks and invest in long-term development. The difficult question is whether debt remains manageable and whether borrowed money is being used in ways that strengthen future capacity.

Productivity sounds like an abstract economic term, but it is closely connected to everyday prosperity. In simple terms, productivity asks how much useful output can be produced from the time, skills, capital, technology and resources used.